Short communicationThe effects of Hericium erinaceus (Amyloban® 3399) on sleep quality and subjective well-being among female undergraduate students: A pilot study
Introduction
Currently in Japan, one out of every four to five people suffers from sleep disorders [1], [2]. A very high percentage of undergraduate students, who are at the last stage of adolescence, suffer from sleep problems because of staying up late at night and sleeping until late in the morning or maintaining irregular sleep patterns. These behaviors lead to disruption of circadian rhythms and deterioration of quality of life, involving a decline in productivity due to daytime sleepiness [3].
Compared with students who get adequate sleep (6–8 h per night), students who habitually sleep in excess (more than 9 h per night) or inadequately (less than 5 h per night) have a strong self-awareness of emotional and physical distress as measured by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). In particular, the levels of salivary free 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (free-MHPG) (a metabolite of central noradrenaline [NA]), and immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) antibodies (which play a role in the immune system), are substantially lower among students with excessive sleep. Our previous study indicated that disturbance of sleep habits is closely related to decline in subjective well-being, as well as a weakening of immune functions and NA systems [4].
Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane mushroom) has long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Its cognitive benefits have recently drawn more attention, and studies have investigated the therapeutic use of this mushroom in patients with mild dementia [5], [6], [7]. In addition, Nagano et al. [8] reported that after 4 weeks of H. erinaceus administration, participants' feelings of depression, irritability, and fatigue significantly declined compared with those before administration, suggesting its efficacy in improving mood. These findings suggest that H. erinaceus may be beneficial for people who suffer from circadian rhythm disorders and help alleviate sleep problems, while improving the quality of life for people who lead an unhealthy or non-productive lifestyle by habitually staying up late and sleeping in.
This pilot study evaluated the effects of a 4-week administration of H. erinaceus (Amyloban® 3399) on female undergraduate students who were likely to have a high incidence of sleep problems. We assessed changes in sleep quality and subjective well-being with the GHQ-28 and PSQI (Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index). Furthermore, we examined the level of salivary free-MHPG after awakening, which is generally regarded as an accurate index of chronic stress and depressive symptoms and reflects sympathetic nervous system activity [9]. Thus, we were able to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the effects of Amyloban® 3399 on sleep quality and subjective well-being of female students.
Section snippets
Participants
The participants were eight female undergraduate students (mean age: 21.7 ± 0.4 years), all of whom had a National Dietitian Exam scheduled within 1 month. None of the participants had a history of serious illnesses or prescription medicine use.
Procedure
The participants were asked to visit the lab and were given a brief description of the experimental procedures and saliva collection method. A questionnaire sheet consisting of GHQ-28 and PSQI questions was distributed. In addition to completing the
Results
The average PSQI score before administration of Amyloban® 3399 was 7.3. Six of the participants scored higher than the cut-off point (5.5) and two scored below. The scores (mean ± standard deviation) for the GHQ-28 subscales were as follows: “somatic symptoms,” 3.8 ± 2.7 (mild), “anxiety and insomnia,” 5 ± 1.9 (moderate), “social dysfunction,” 1.9 ± 2.1 (mild), and “depression,” 1.8 ± 1.3 (mild).
On the “anxiety and insomnia” subscale of the GHQ-28, there was a declining trend after 4 weeks of
Discussion
This study comprehensively evaluated subjective ratings on the GHQ-28 and PSQI questionnaires, as well as the objective assessment of salivary free-MHPG levels, taken from 8 female undergraduate students to assess the effects of 4 weeks of administration of Amyloban® 3399 on sleep quality and subjective well-being. The average PSQI score from the eight participants before administrating Amyloban® 3399 was 7.3 and was higher than the cut-off point (5.5). In addition, the average score on the
Conclusion
This pilot study assessed the effects of 4 weeks of administration of Amyloban® 3399 on subjective well-being and sleep quality in female undergraduate students. The results revealed an increase in salivary free-MHPG, which corresponded to an improvement in anxiety and quality of sleep. Thus, we conclude that one of the possible effects of Amyloban® 3399 is to balance out the mind and body. In the future, we will need to study the effects of Amyloban® 3399 on sleep quality and everyday work,
Footnotes
Amyloban® 3399 made based on a proprietary extract called “Amycenone” was used for this study. It contains standardized amounts of the following compounds:
- 1.
Hericenone (0.5%) – Hericenone stimulates synthesis of nerve growth factor, which promotes nerve protection [17], [18].
- 2.
Amyloban (6%) – Fat soluble compound, which reduces the endoplasmic reticulum stress caused by amyloid beta and helps increase the survival of nerve cells [7].
Funding
This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists B: 24730613 from Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science to Hisayoshi Okamura.
Acknowledgments
The author wishes to thank Masaki Shirota, CEO of Mushroom Wisdom, Inc., E. Rutherford, NJ, USA that developed Amyloban®3399 as a dietary supplement, and Tomoko Nakamura, Vice President of Sun Medica Co., Ltd., Tokyo Japan, who provided Amyloban®3399 for use in this study.
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